July 2012

July 31, 2012

At the beginning of May, we went to Michigan when Aria was three weeks old. The trip went great and I felt great, too. We went for a surprise 60th birthday party for my dad. It kind of came up fast and sort of sudden because it was the one weekend that worked for the majority of us 14 kids. (Only my sister Sara & Jon and my sister Emily & Matt and their families weren't able to make it.) It was a fun weekend! His actual birthday was at the end of May. (Photos are from our most recent trip.)

The kids and I headed to Michigan at the end of June for over two weeks sans husband. Mark stayed back to get some work done on the house.

We headed to Michigan's upper peninsula first. We stayed at my maternal grandparent's house on Lake Superior where we met up with my mom and my two youngest siblings the first weekend we left. (Danny (16) and, Jean (13), whom I recently found out does not like to be referred to as "Jeanie" any longer (I feel for her! I was "Jenny" my whole life in spite of constantly wanting people to call me Jen or Jennifer. It's not easy getting people to change!))

{This is the giant sand hill next to my grandma & grandpa's house. I tumbled down this same hill when I was a kid. It was fun to see our kids do the same now!}

It was so nice to see my grandpa and grandma (below) and to enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Superior that was so familiar to me in my childhood. I can't remember the last time I was actually at their house - I think it's been about 8 years, give or take. It was their camp before my grandpa retired from work in the twin cities (Minnesota) and they moved up there permanently. I know Mark and I were there sometime after we were married (which was over 11 years ago).

{Excuse the lighting! Not the best shot of all of us but we had to take this quickly before my grandma had to head to an appointment. We took it right before we left to head to my family's home.}

{Lake Superior.}

We also were able to visit with my Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Gordon (my dad's oldest brother, above) while we were up there. I hadn't seen them in years! I wasn't able to see all of my aunts and uncles up there since we were there for such a short time but we were able to squeeze in a quick visit to their place. It was fun to spend some time at their house, too, as it's a huge part of my childhood and our family vacations spent in Michigan's upper peninsula. I was heavily influenced by them, and a few of my other aunts and uncles, in my lifelong love for vintage/antiques - so that was particularily fun to see all of their treasures on display in their home.

We were in the U.P. for only a couple of days before heading 'home' in Michigan's lower peninsula where we spent about two weeks. It was so relaxing and fun to be there in the summer! We have only been able to make one annual trip a year in the past 5 years or so, and that's been for the holidays, since we've lived in Minnesota - so this was an extra special treat for us. It's about an 800 mile trek from their house to ours.

The weather was brutally hot the entire two weeks. High 90°'s F to low 100°'s F. Crazy hot. Too hot to be outside with the heat index being even higher - unless you were swimming in the pool, which felt like bathwater it was so warm. I'd hoped to get a little sun while on vacation but I got none. I did get in a few thrifting excursions though - which was really fun! There are some great thrifts in the area near my family's home.

I scored a bunch of vintage dresses/clothes for Aria. I was even able to sneak out for a couple of quick thrifting excursions alone right after I nursed her - that was really nice!

My sister, Heidi, and her husband, Jeff, and their two little guys were there almost the whole time we were. {They live in the U.P.} That was fun since we rarely get to see them either! It was already so long ago but it was a fun vacation.

Note: Photos are in no particular order. Just trying to get another post in here between baby holding and baby nursing time! They're also halfhazzardly edited, so don't mind that either. I have more photos - but they're still on my card and I need to get them on my computer yet. So maybe in another week or three I'll do another post...

When I don't blog, I'm not good about keeping up on blogs either - I miss the blogging world!

July 22, 2012

My sisters' shop, Circle Boutique, is having a giveaway! Head on over to the Circle Boutique Facebook page and 'like' it for a chance to win an item of your choice from the Circle Boutique Etsy shop! Giveaway ends Monday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. (Central time).

July 11, 2012

Over two months with no blog posts goes pretty fast when you have a new baby around. A lot has happened in the past two months. We've made two trips to my family's home in Michigan, Aria has grown tremendously, and we've had a lot of changes around the house as far as home construction goes.

Aria update:

She's twelve weeks old today.

She's a very happy and content baby. And rarely cries. I usually catch on to her feeding cues before she starts to cry so she hardly cries for that either.

She smiles like crazy and is starting to find her sense of humor - I've been able to get her to giggle a couple of times lately.

She is probably going to be a thumb sucker - she's been sucking on it a lot lately. Although, she still takes her pacifier when she's tired. I don't mind - I've had two thumb suckers and I always liked that they were good self-soothers as babies because of it. And, seriously, is there anything cuter than a little baby sucking their fingers or thumb?

She rolls from her back to her tummy but so far she only goes to the left when she does it. She just started that last week. (Just over 11 weeks old.) Anytime she's on the floor now (which isn't often since she's always being held), she almost immediately tries to roll over.

She found her little voice a few days ago and I think that's my favorite thing she's done so far! I always love when they learn that they have control over those little vocal cords. She loves lying there making all kinds of fun noises now!

She weighs over 12 pounds. Not sure what she is right now but she was 12 lbs. 10 oz. just over two weeks ago before we left on our trip. She is so pudgy and we're absolutely enjoying every minute with her!

I had no postpartum depression this time around - something some of you may have wondered about due to my lack of posts. Her birth and even the weeks following have really helped to heal a part of me. I can't describe it. I was so nervous about those weeks/months after she was born, during my pregnancy, and I didn't even get so much as the baby blues this time around.

I credit a huge part of that with the way we eat now as opposed to then. (We eat minimal to no processed foods, we've also reduced and cut out sugars, and we eat a lot of organic/non-GMO produce, and organic meats. Clean eating.) I still feel so thankful for having a happy heart this time around instead of one that feels lost. It's a really great thing. And one that others can share, as well. No one has to suffer in silence with such an awful thing. There is so much help out there if you are. As an advocate for depression awareness, I urge you to take that first step toward getting help by talking about it. With someone you love or with a professional. Because the first step toward healing is admitting that there is something wrong. Only you can admit and acknowledge it before you can get better. And even if you may not feel like it, it's worth it. You're worth it. And I promise some day you'll know that if you don't at this moment.

I didn't mean to turn this into a heavy ending but I can't write about my past without encouraging others to get help when I know so many are out there suffering.

On a lighter note, I'm hoping to reopen the junk shop soon and (hopefully) keep up with a little more frequent posting. I have a few posts started about our trips and our house - but if you've followed along for any length of time, then you know what a procrastinator I am and that I probably won't get around to them very soon!